Simmons heads to Washington

WASHINGTON -- When he finished his four-year job as staff director for the Select Committee on Intelligence, Robert Simmons packed up his Jeep, headed north for Stonington, Conn., and never expected to return to Washington.

ADAM GORLICK

Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Fifteen years later, the 57-year-old Republican congressman-elect for Connecticut's 2nd District is having a sort of homecoming.

"It's great to have Rob back in Washington," said Rep. Porter Goss, R, Fla., chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence. "He's a great guy, and his background will allow him to make sound judgments."

That background -- as a Vietnam War veteran, CIA agent, congressional staffer and a five-term state representative -- is now coming into play as Simmons settles back into Washington. He's jockeying for a position on the House Armed Services Committee and is already toying with the idea of serving on the Intelligence Committee should he be re-elected in 2002.

"I never thought we'd be doing what we're doing now," was Simmons' reaction while driving into Washington for this week's freshman lawmaker orientation. "I never thought this would happen."

And it barely did.

Simmons toppled 10-term Democratic incumbent Sam Gejdenson on Election Day with just roughly 2,800 votes after a bitter campaign with no shortage of personal attacks.

But Simmons says he's put the campaign behind him and is ready to reach out to his new constituents, especially those such as union leaders who strongly backed Gejdenson.

While other newly elected congressmen are talking about their ideas for revamping and reforming health care, education and social security, Simmons says he's keeping his focus local. He's blown off a few freshmen orientation events to have dinner with Connecticut's two other GOP House members and to prepare for his transition into office.

He also landed a one-on-one meeting with House Speaker Dennis Hastert Monday and pitched his interest in the Armed Services Committee.

"He indicated that he was prepared to pursue that for me," Simmons said. Committee appointments likely will be made shortly before the new lawmakers are sworn in on Jan. 3.

An Armed Services post would be vital to Connecticut's 2nd District, home to military contractors such as Electric Boat and Pratt & Whitney, Simmons said. He would be the committee's third Connecticut member, joining Democratic Reps. John Larson and James Maloney.

"We could be a solid block for Connecticut's defense industry," Simmons said.

"I know a lot of guys who have been laid off from Electric Boat and feel like they've been betrayed by their representative," Simmons said. "I'm going to make sure they don't feel that way anymore."

Simmons has pledged not to let partisanship stand in his way, and Connecticut GOP Rep. Christopher Shays says the new congressman's moderate views will help him build coalitions across party lines.

"Rob will be a very effective voice in a Republican Congress with a lot of conservative members," Shays said. "We need more members like Rob who may have a broader appeal."